Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-07-14
WON'T VISIT ST. LOUIS.
Text Offhe Presidents Letter Declining the In
~yitatiOa to Be the City's Guest in septsm-
Der.
ne Would Do Nothing to Disturb the Harmony
OF the q. A, Il. Me5 at Their Encam p
ment.

ne Would Do Nothing to Disturb the Harmony
OF thc q. A, Il. Men at Their Encam p
ment.
WASHINGTON, Special Telegram, July -
The following letter from President Cleye-
land to the mayor OF st. Louis. who was
the chairman Of the committee Of citizens
who invited the president to visit st. Louis
during the holding OF the encampment OF
the Grand Army oil the Republic, in Sep
TENDER, is published to-day;
Executive Mansion, Washington, July 4.
Hon. David Il. Francis, Mayor and
Chairman Dear Sir: When | received the
extremely cordial and gratifying invitation
from the citizens OF ST. Louis, rendered by
a number Of her representative men,, to
| visit that city during the national encamp-
ment OF the Grand Army OF the Republic,
| had been contemplating for some time
the acceptance of the invitation from that
organization to the same effect, oud q
considered the pleasure which it would al
lord me il it should be possible to meet,
not only members OF the Grand Army, but
the people OF st. Louis and other cities
in the West which occasion would give
me an opportunity to visit. Thee FACTIONS
l OF my DHDllC uuIltS L HUI 10 JIG 81 hOCl
tain, however. that when first confronted
by the delegation, OF which you were the
head, I expected to do no more ut that
time than to promise consideration OF the
double invitation rendered me, and to ex-
press the pleasure it would give me to &C
cept the same thereafter, il possible. But
the cordiality and sincerity oil your pres.
entation, reinforced by the heartiness OF
the people who surrounded you, SO inn
$1,000 49, fAaA 7 could rot racfat the fapl-
ing which prompted me to assure you on
the spot that | would be with you and the
Grand Army OF the Republic at the time
then designated, il nothing happened
in the meantime to absolutely prevent
my leaving Washington. Immediately up
on the public announcement OF this con-
clusion, expressions emanatIng rom Ger.
tain important members OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic and increasing in
volume and vi~rulence, constrained me to
review my acceptance of these invitations.
The expressions referred to go to the ex-
tent OF debating that would be an nm.
welcome guest at the time n place oil the
national encampment. This statement is
based as well as / can Judge, upon certain
official acts OF mine Involving important
public interests, done under the restraints
and obligations OF my oath OF office, which
do not appear to accord with the wishes oil
some members OF the Grand Army ofthe Re-
public. | refuse to believe that this or
ganization, founded upon patriotic ideas,
composed very largely OF men entitled to
lasting honor and consideration, and
whose browning glory 1t should be that
they are American citizens as we'll as sold.
iers, deems 1t a part OF it's mission to
compass any object or purpose by at
tempting to
NrIMIDATE THE EXECUTIVE
or coerce those charged with making aud
executing the laws; and yet, the expressions
to which l have referred indicate such q
prevalence OF u~nfriendly feeling and such a
mena CO to an occasion which should be
harmonious, peaceful and cordial, that
they can not be ignored. ] beg you to un-
derstand that ] am not conscious OF any
act OF mine which should make me fear to
meet the Grand Army OF the Republic or
any other assemblage OF my fellow citizens.
The account OF my official stewardship is
always ready for presentation TO nay coun.
trymen. / should not be frank il l Jailed
to confess. while disclaiming all resentment,
that | have been hurt by those unworthy
and wanton attacks upon me, growing ont
of this matter, and the reckless manne in
which my actions and motives have been
misrepre sented, both publicly and private
ly-for which, however, the Grand Army
OF the Republic, as O body, is not RESPONSE
BILE. Threats OF personal violence and
harm in case | take the trip in question
which scores OF misguided, unbalanced men,
under stimulation of excited feeling,
I have made-are not even considered. Rath-
err thar abandon my visit to the West, and
~disappoint your citizens, Knight, If | & alone
were concerned, submit to insult to which,
il is quite openly asserted, / would be help
lessly subjected il present at the encamp-
ment, but ] should bear with me there the
peoples highest office, the dignity OF which
/ must protect, and | believe that neither
the Grand Army OF the Republic, as an Or
g~anization, nor anything like a majority
OF its members, would ever encourage any
scandalous attack upon it. II, how
ever, among the membership Of this
body there are some, as certainly seems
to be the case, determined TO de-
nounce me and ny official acts at the ma
tional encampment, | believe they should
be permitted to do so unrestrained by my
presence as the guest OF their organization,
or the guest Of the hospitable city in which
their meeting is held. A number OF the
Grand Army posts have signified their in
t~ention, / am informed, to remain away
from the encampment in case | visit the
city at that time.
LoTH TO CAUSE TROUBLE.
without considering the merit ofsuch an
excuse. l ieel that ] ought not to be the
I NouoC VI SUM " @N -
and place OF the encampment were
liked long before my invitations were
received. Those desiring to par.
ticipate in it's proceedings should be first
regarded, and no being should be permitted
to interfere with their intentions. Another
consideration, of more Importance than
all Others, remains to be noticed. The
fact was referred to by you when you YER
bally presented the invitation OF the citi-
gems OF st. Louis, that the coming encamp-
ment OF the Grand Army OF the Republic
would be the first heldin a Southern state,
| suppose the TACT was mentioned as a
pleasing indiction Of the fraternal feeling
so fast gaining ground throughout the
entire land, and hailed by every
patriotic citizen as an earnest that
the Union has really, and in fact, beep
saved in the sentiment and spirit, with all
the benefits ii vouchsafes to a united peo'
pie. / cannot rid myself OF the belief that
the least discord OF this propitious oe-
casion might retard the progress of the
sentiment of common brotherhood, which
the Grand Army OF the Republic has so
good an opportunity to increase and los,
ter. l certainly ought not to be the cause
OF such diseord, in any event or upon any
pretext. IT seems to me that you and the
citizens OF st. Louis are entitled TO this
unreserved statement OF conditions which
has constrained me to forego my con
templated visit, and to withdraw my ac,
ceptanee of your invitation. My pres.
ence in your city at the time you
have indicated can be of but little moment
compared with the Importance Of the cor.
dial and harmonious entertainment OF
yonr other guests. assure you that
abandon my plan without the least per,
sonal feeling except regret, constrained
thereto by a sense Of duty aetuated by a
desire to save any embarrassment to the
people of st. Louis or their expected
guests, and with heartfelt and grateful ap-
probation of the sincere and unaffected
kindness of your citizens. Hoping the en-
campment may be an occasion OF much
usefulness, and that it's proceedings may
illustrate the highest patriotism Of Ameri.
can citizenship, l am yours, very sincerely,
GROVER CLEVELAND.